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Elevated Bamboo Retreat With Translucent Screens

Authors:
Wai shun Cheung, Cheuk ying Chan, Kin shing Lam, Chi kin Kwok
Elevated Bamboo Retreat With Translucent Screens

Project in-detail

Elevated above the ground, this compact hut utilizes bamboo and translucent materials to create a seamless connection with nature, prioritizing both privacy and functionality as a residential retreat.
5 key facts about this project
01
Elevated design minimizes insect exposure while enhancing landscape visibility.
02
Translucent screens create a soft, filtered light and maintain privacy.
03
Use of bamboo as a primary material reflects local building traditions.
04
Compact 20-square-meter layout maximizes functionality without sacrificing comfort.
05
Integration of under-storage optimizes space in a small footprint.

"The Lantern" is an architectural design that examines how people live in harmony with nature. Located near a mountain and facing wide open fields, the project features a small residential hut. This design aims to enhance occupants' experiences of the natural environment while ensuring their comfort and privacy.

Elevation Strategy

The hut is elevated, which helps improve views and allows for greater interaction with the landscape. This elevation addresses practical issues, like keeping insects and animals at bay. It also aligns with local building practices that often favor elevated living spaces. By lifting the structure, the design highlights the importance of connecting with the surrounding area.

Spatial Configuration

At 20 square meters, the hut uses a column and beam support system. This structure permits a more open façade but limits some of the open-plan layout options. Alternatively, a structural wall system might allow for more open spaces, but it comes at the cost of façade expression. This balance between privacy and openness is critical, allowing occupants to feel secure while still appreciating the outdoors.

Translucent Design Elements

A prominent aspect is the hut's suspended design, which helps blur the separation between inside and outside. The use of translucent materials allows natural light to flow into the living area. This design choice creates a sense of openness while maintaining privacy. It supports a close relationship with nature, making it easier for inhabitants to feel a part of their environment.

Functional Design Features

The hut’s layout includes practical components like under-storage that helps maximize the small space. Essential functions, such as bathrooms and entrances, are blended into the design, ensuring they do not dominate the interior. Bamboo is used for certain parts of the hut, reflecting local construction methods and emphasizing sustainability.

As light filters through the translucent features, the interior transforms throughout the day. This dynamic quality encourages occupants to engage more fully with both the space and its natural surroundings. The soft glow created by the materials enhances the hut’s character, making it a welcoming space at any time.

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MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

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Competition organisers

The MICROHOME 10 competition invites participants to submit visionary designs for off-grid, modular microhomes that push the limits of sustainable, small-scale living. Organised by Buildner in partnership with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this tenth edition sets the challenge of designing a dwelling for two people within a maximum floor area of 25 m², encouraging bold solutions adaptable to any urban or rural location. The competition continues Buildner’s mission to foster innovative approaches to compact, energy-efficient housing that can address pressing global challenges.

This year’s edition offers a generous total prize fund of €100,000, including the Kingspan Award for designs that integrate high-performance Kingspan products and the Hapi Homes Award for a project selected for real-world construction. In addition to cash prizes, the winners gain international exposure through Buildner’s media partnerships, publications, and a dedicated MICROHOME magazine, further amplifying their ideas to the wider architectural community.

Key dates for MICROHOME 10 include the closing date for registration on 25 September 2025, the submission deadline on 29 October 2025 (11:59 p.m. London time), and the announcement of winners on 9 December 2025. These milestones ensure participants have clear timelines to develop and present their concepts, with early registration discounts available to support students and emerging designers worldwide.

MICROHOME

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 25 September 2025

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